unladylikely

comparative more unladylikely · superlative most unladylikely · alternative unladylike-ly

1. In an unladylike manner.

   “Omigosh,” I gasped, unladylikely.

   1925 June 28, Antoinette Donnelly, “Spending Hundreds for Hosiery: Grandma Owned One Best Pair of Stockings; the Modern Woman Buys Them by the Dozen”, in Sunday News, volume 5, number 10, page 15

   5 more examples

   Mother looked as if she onged to be a man for just one minute while she expressed herself strongly and unladylikely.

   1917 August 17, “Mother Has New Idea: And Then Another Which Involve Family Eating; But It All Comes Out Right After a Troublesome Time of Tribulation”, in The Salina Daily Union, volume XX, number 58, Salina, Kan., page five

   In the first place the headgear did not fuly^([sic]) conceal the stubbly chins of the women, and they had a general tread that was not stately enough to bespeak them as “nice girls,” so there was no acceptance of the challenge, but my, O me, they did have a lot of fun out of it before it was over, for a nine of men was made up, and they went after the skirts quite unladylikely.

   1919 September 2, Lebanon Daily News, 46th year, number 355, Lebanon, Pa., page five

   Why, when I got your letter, I just danced, very unladylikely, all over the room!

   1926 April 1, The Youth’s Companion, volume 100, number 13, page 259

   “I can’t be a sponsor anymore.” she wept unladylikely.

   1928 April 26, “To-Day’s Youngest Tragedy”, in The Watchtower, volume V, number 26, Wesleyan College, Macon, Ga.

   The only time that she forgets she went to the Spence school is when Mr. Gilhooley affectionately chokes her (and a good thing too) and then she dies so gorgeously and so unladylikely that the audience cheers right up and thinks maybe she got what she wanted.

   1931, Bulletin, American Women’s Club of Paris, page 605